10 Ways to Use Peeps This Spring

One of my favorite parts of Easter is all of the delicious candy that hits the shelves around this time. Of course, I love the opportunity to spend time with extended family and watch the little kids hunt for colorful eggs in their adorable Easter outfits, but Easter candy truly is the best candy. You’ve got those cream-filled Cadbury eggs, Reese’s peanut butter-filled rabbits, jelly beans, and of course Peeps.

Peeps are an all-time favorite of mine. Those little marshmallows shaped like bunnies and chicks and then coated with a layer of colorful sugar are a staple of Easter candy. When I was in undergrad, we used to buy loads of them and pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds to watch them puff up and change shape. For some reason, we found this hilarious. Now that I’m older, I still love Peeps both for their sugary goodness and for their iconic representation of Easter candy. I also love that there are about a million different ways — both edible and inedible — that you can enjoy them. Here are just a few.

5 Edible Ways to Use Peeps

Cupcake and Cookie ToppersPeeps make great cupcake and cookie toppers. Since they are marshmallow and sugar based, they taste wonderful with most frosting. Stick them in the frosting for a delicious and beautiful springtime treat.

Peep “Sushi”The only thing this sushi has in common with real sushi is that it looks similar. Even if you are not a fan of raw fish, this sweet version will have you reaching for more. You can use the peeps as filler for sushi rolls that include Rice Krispies treats for rice and Fruit by the Foot for seaweed. Slice and enjoy! More on Peep Sushi here.

PeepciclesThe only thing better than Peeps out of the box are Peeps out of the freezer. Make them even more delectable by covering them with dark, milk, or white chocolate and topping them off with nuts or another sugary decoration. Slide a popsicle stick in them, pop them in the freezer for a few hours, and savor this chilled treat. Get the recipe here.

Rice Krispies Treats Made with PeepsSince Peeps are just glorified marshmallows, you can substitute them for the marshmallows in your Rice Krispies treats. The added bonus here is that they lend a bit of color to otherwise ordinary bars, making them the perfect, easy dessert to whip up for Easter Sunday.

S’meepsPeeps can also be substituted for the marshmallows in your S’mores. Just grab some chocolate bars and graham crackers and assemble your S’mores as you normally would. If you live in a warm climate and are feeling especially vicious, you can even roast the Peeps over a fire.

5 Inedible Ways to Use Peeps

Do Some ResearchDid you know that there is an entire website devoted to doing research on Peeps? They have tested these resilient little guys in different environments, and even discuss how, conjoined at birth, they are separated successfully. It’s a medical miracle!

Peep WarPeep War is a printable game that uses Peeps and jelly beans to set up a battlefield. The objective of the game is to conquer 80% of your opponent’s soldiers. Even though your mom always told you not to play with your food, I think it’s okay to make just this one exception because it looks like so much fun!

Peep StampsSince Peeps are such an iconic representation of Easter, you can use them as stamps to create greeting cards or fun tote bags or other Easter party favors. Just press your Peeps into ink or paint and press them onto whatever you want to stamp. Wait for it to dry, then draw tiny eyes just like your Peeps have. Just be sure you don’t eat ink- or paint-stained Peeps!

Place Card PeepsThrowing an Easter party or a spring get-together? No party is complete without place cards, and Peeps make them all the more fun. Write your guests’ names on cards. Then, grab some chick-shaped Peeps and make a slice just behind their head. Place the cards in your sliced Peep and put them on the table.

Centerpieces with PeepsA great way to use Peeps for decoration is to make a super cute centerpiece with them. You can either use a foam shape and toothpicks to arrange your Peeps in a floral-like centerpiece, or you can line a vase with them and insert flowers in the middle. Either way, it is a beautiful way to spruce up a springtime party!

Your article made me laugh, even though I'm not a big fan of peeps. A big thank you for the link to the peep research center. These guys are shining examples of how science and fantasy can co-exist so well.